TRD Pro Stolen

[4RunnerAU]

I'm with everyone else. It really sounds like someone copied your key. I would be interested to see how car dealerships keep tabs on the process to prevent that from happening.

 

[bloodninja]

I could be wrong, but back in the day when I though Low Jack was a good system, my thoughts of Low Jack went down the drain when I realized that the local police had to be equipped with the Low Jack location system and if they didn't have it, you were screwed.

I heard about Low Jack going GPS, but haven't looked into it, and do you know what happens to GPS when in a brick building or under a bridge?

If you'd like to know how LoJack works, I can crack all sorts of eggs of knowledge all over you, within reason.

 

[lilsid112]

Best of luck recovering your Pro! I'm curious as to how they stole it.

 

[Jeremy556]

Its also incredibly easy to steal newer cars now adays. They have these things called computers in them. All you need is a gateway (internet/BT/etc).

I believe you can manually shift from P to N and roll the vehicle...

lol, no.

You can shift the transfer case into neutral without doing anything else. I do that to move mine around in the garage.

 

[marshal]

lol, no.

You can shift the transfer case into neutral without doing anything else. I do that to move mine around in the garage.

lol, yes.

There is a mechanical override. That little square pop out plastic piece next to the shifter has the mechanical override on the inside to shift it into neutral.

 

[rydr1]

If you'd like to know how LoJack works, I can crack all sorts of eggs of knowledge all over you, within reason.

I'm all about learning new things. If you don't mind post up the info here if other people are interested or send me a PM.

I would definitely be interested in newer info than what I learned years ago.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Question, have you had suspicious people in your area loitering in a car and/or with large bags? Typically what I have heard is that they're using a powerful antennae to pick up the RIFD signal from the street when you enter/leave a vehicle and cloning the Immobilizer signal that way. Only Toyota Smart Keys use a rolling key code as of right now, so it's a very simple thing to defeat that way.

I'm not saying someone at the dealership couldn't have done it, but holding the vehicle all day for a service is actually not as uncommon as you might think. At our dealership we'd much rather the customer leave it for the day so we can better dispatch priority work vs. rushing everything out the door (more likely to cause mistakes, errors, ect.) But it is possible someone could have copied the key and/or obtained the key code.

Thieves have quickly adapted to changing times, so even the most modern security measures are only an inconvenience to serious/organized car thieves. Lo Jack is a good system, we install it at the dealership; but from what I have seen and read up on their design, they too can be defeated and possibly jammed given the right equipment (though this is more rare from what I read if not proven; more theoretical.)

Best of luck in recovering it, I find it odd that they ditched your gear on your neighbor's yard; that seems weird to me at least.

 

[bloodninja]

I'm all about learning new things. If you don't mind post up the info here if other people are interested or send me a PM.

I would definitely be interested in newer info than what I learned years ago.

I'm not sure if what public info I have is any more current than what you may already know, but it's worth a try.

LoJack is a really useful system, so long as you live/frequent reasonably populated areas (not super ultra rural, like... the Outback for instance). The signal from LoJack equipped and activated vehicles generally can transmit for about 10 miles in radius if UNOBSTRUCTED, so the closer you are to civilization, the better. In dense areas, it may only transmit several hundred meters. Since LoJack uses RF (radio frequency) to broadcast its unique identifier, its broadcast range is almost entirely dependent on what obstacles are in the way (think of radio signals while in mountainous regions).

It can generally be picked up from within buildings and garages and things like that, but if there's too much between it and the receiver in whatever police vehicle, it won't be of much use.

The alternative would be a GPS-based system, but that has its own faults. First and foremost, GPS requires a generally direct line-of-sight to at least a handful of satellites to appropriately triangulate its position.

Because of this, I'd recommend something like a LoJack over a GPS based system if you live in a very urban area, as it's much more likely to be picked up among the buildings and presumably more police cars.

In more rural areas, a GPS system (like Toyota's SOS system) would be far superior because you're much less likely to encounter thick structures like skyscrapers and parking garages that could obstruct the GPS signals.


tl;dr - It's my opinion that you should base whether you get LoJack or a GPS based system (like Toyota SOS) on whether you live in a rural or urban area, due to their effectiveness.
Rural - GPS (Toyota SOS or equivalent)
Urban - LoJack

Just my two cents from being very familiar with both. Hopefully that helps at least a little :/

 

[Jeremy556]

lol, yes.

There is a mechanical override. That little square pop out plastic piece next to the shifter has the mechanical override on the inside to shift it into neutral.

I was lol about stealing a car with bluetooth or through the internet.

I know about the shift interlock override, but it is even easier to just shift the transfer case to neutral

 

[marshal]

I was lol about stealing a car with bluetooth or through the internet.

I know about the shift interlock override, but it is even easier to just shift the transfer case to neutral

Ah gotcha. I'd have lol no'd that too if I wasn't dropping it like its hot. And I agree. Tcase is way more convenient

 

[Swarty]

That's not quite how it works.

Question, have you had suspicious people in your area loitering in a car and/or with large bags? Typically what I have heard is that they're using a powerful antennae to pick up the RIFD signal from the street when you enter/leave a vehicle and cloning the Immobilizer signal that way. Only Toyota Smart Keys use a rolling key code as of right now, so it's a very simple thing to defeat that way.

Those 2 things are very different and immobilizers are only very easy to defeat but only if you can touch the key.

The immobilizer used by Toyota is a passive magnetic coupled transponder which has such a weak signal that past about a foot is indiscernible from background noise and the keys only emit it in the presence of a properly oriented magnetic field. Not saying people can't clone these from your pocket/hand, but you have to be uncomfortably close. Then get an induction magnet with a reader oriented correctly. The magnet would have to be close enough to power the chip, <2". This is intimately close. And did I mention you have to have it oriented correctly? The passive circuit is unfortunately not powered and so it would be nearly impossible to implement a rolling code, so once the code is read you are good to go.

The rolling code in the smart key is an entirely unrelated system and is actually a constant power RFID that can be read from a substantial distance with some fairly cheap tools.

 

[Boyds4Runner]

So sorry to hear about the truck being stolen! Totally stinks. The other bad news is to not expect the police to do anything about it. To them it's an insurance claim for you and paperwork for them to fill out.
My 95 Blazer (of all cars lol) was stolen from a busy street in the summer dusk in DC in 95. It was parallel parked and the thiefs had picked up the rear of the car in front up onto the sidewalk to get the angle for the tow truck to steal it. DC cops never showed up to file the report, I had to walk 7 blocks to the station to file report. Their first question was if I wasn't sure it wasn't repoe'd because it was my fault that thiefs stole my car.
In the end it was found up on blocks in an alleyway. DC police never showed up again to file recovery so my VIN could be taken off of the stolen database. They didn't care about fingerprints or anything unless as the tow truck driver said that I hired to take it back home said "cops don't do sh** to investigate stolen cars unless there was crack cocaine in the backseat or a dead body".
It sucks for you because you feel, and have been, personally violated, but for police it's just a property claim that can be replaced and they see it all the time and don't feel the effort to find it is worth their time.
Best you can do is get your paperwork all straight so that insurance can declare it missing and a total loss after 30 days.
I feel for you my friend, good luck!

 

[LandCruiser]

I like that I have a garage, but mine also lives in a hospital parking lot all night--so when it's still there in the morning I'm happy.

 

[Capq45]

Hello to the T4R community. Just wanted to give an update. Unfortunately, the vehicle is still missing. However, it turns out my air compressor and emergency kit, which I keep in the vehicle, were thrown out and landed on the neighbor's yard, about 4 houses down from me. The neighbor found the bags in the front lawn Saturday morning around 11 AM. It was returned to me this morning. The receipt was inside the storage bag and it had my address.

When I filed the report, PD told me that I might get a call from a detective on Monday. I'm gonna bring up the compressor as it might have the suspects fingerprints on it.

The 4Runner has an alarm. It did not go off. There was no broken glass either. The dog didn't even bark. I doubt it was a towed. My room window was open and I think I would have heard it. Both keys are in my possession. I was intending on getting LoJack, but I guess I waited too long.

To give further insight, I brought the vehicle in for its 5000K service at 9AM at the Toyota dealer on Friday. I didn't get it back until 5PM or so. I don't know if that means anything, but who knows. There was an alignment done as well, but it usually doesn't take 8 hours to take care of these things.

In any case, I did call the insurance company on Saturday. I was told I would be receiving a call on Monday.

For those of you that are familiar with Sylmar, it has gotten worse over the years. My neighbor's car was broken into about a month ago. Alarm did not go off either. Our community security isn't very helpful. However, the gates to the community do have cameras. I just need to find out if they work.

I'll keep everyone updated as soon as I have any new information.

Again, thank you.

What dealership did you go to?
Chris

 

[DesertCanyons]

Preventing car theft

So this all makes me wonder what else we can do to protect our vehicles. If you have a lift, upgraded wheels and tires, skids, sliders and other aftermarket gear, I'm wondering if your insurance is going to cover any or all of that gear.

Other than the LoJack or GPS, is there a way to disable the car? When cars had distributors I used to take the main coil with me. Short of disconnecting the battery and taking the hot cable with you, is there something we can take with us that makes it impossible to drive? And how about that gear shift override? Can we jamb that or fabricate a lock that prevents it from shifting out of park? And can we lock the transfer case lever? I'm just throwing out ideas here. Not saying any of these would do the trick.

What ideas do you have for disabling the vehicle?

Hey, what about using one of those wheel locks the cops use when you don't pay your parking tickets? You can't move the car with one of those in place. I know, not very practical. Try asking your wife to put that thing on when she parks it. :kiss:

I still have a pretty good, 4 prong Club. You remember the old hardend steel steering wheel locks, don't you? It can still stop would be thieves or discourage them because no one expects to see them anymore. Thieves used to hack saw the steering wheel to take them off. With mine you have to cut the wheel in at least two places. If you don't remember what the Club is you're in your early twenties. :music:

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Those 2 things are very different and immobilizers are only very easy to defeat but only if you can touch the key.

The immobilizer used by Toyota is a passive magnetic coupled transponder which has such a weak signal that past about a foot is indiscernible from background noise and the keys only emit it in the presence of a properly oriented magnetic field. Not saying people can't clone these from your pocket/hand, but you have to be uncomfortably close. Then get an induction magnet with a reader oriented correctly. The magnet would have to be close enough to power the chip, <2". This is intimately close. And did I mention you have to have it oriented correctly? The passive circuit is unfortunately not powered and so it would be nearly impossible to implement a rolling code, so once the code is read you are good to go.

The rolling code in the smart key is an entirely unrelated system and is actually a constant power RFID that can be read from a substantial distance with some fairly cheap tools.

That's all true, I recall reading somewhere that they managed to get the signals a bit easier than brushing up again you. Oh, you know what I may be thinking of how they obtain RKE codes to get in the vehicles.

 

[philsey]

So this all makes me wonder what else we can do to protect our vehicles. If you have a lift, upgraded wheels and tires, skids, sliders and other aftermarket gear, I'm wondering if your insurance is going to cover any or all of that gear.

I can speak to my small experience. I had done a (fairly expensive to some ppl) headlight retrofit in my wife's 2010 CRV. She drowned it, it was totaled, and my ins co added within $100 of that RF cost to my claim. All I had to do was produce receipts. I was flabbergasted, and happy.

To those with modified vehicles I'd suggest two things: - keep receipts, - call your ins agent and ask. Ounce of prevention, etc.

 

[philsey]

[MENTION=128001]confuzshuz[/MENTION]

I've read your thread twice. First, sry to hear of your loss.

I agree with the many remarks directed towards the dealership. Just way too much coincidence IMO. As I pondered, it crossed my mind if I'd go discuss with the dealer owner. If he's a good businessman, he should be concerned.

Agree that the police may not be responsive, but I'd be on them like white-on-rice.

Also agree with the "odd they tossed your stuff" comment. That does tell me they drove it off, vs towing it away.

Best hope now is that it gets totaled and you have a good ins agent.

 

[kapp_badbloodz]

[MENTION=78273]Jeremy556[/MENTION] [MENTION=104049]marshal[/MENTION] its not that hard if you know what you're doing. We can all be conspiracy theorists here but there was no damage, no noise, and no suspicious activity. Something on this level is possible... not likely but possible. Maybe my terminology was off :/

https://youtu.be/3jstaBeXgAs

 

[kboxvegas]

I hate thief's... We live in a pretty decent area but one of the first things I did was put some nice HD IP camera's up. If something does happen, I want the best chance possible of catching them. I have known many people over the years who got their cars stolen and our PD did not do jack shit about it. As far as parts go, I pay $39 a year for $5,000 in aftermarket parts replacement. I feel that it is worth it.

I also recommend investing in a quality lead delivery system as they tend to make thief's run away if you so happen to catch them in the act.

I hope it all works out for you.